Stranding machine



' Nw. '13,' 192s. l 1,691,337

l E. A. CONN'ER STRANDING MCHINE original Filed July 25, 1925 4sheets-sheet 1 www f www:

hantoz' @M Nov. 13, d' 928.

E. A. coNNER STRANDING MAGHINE- original Filed July 25, 1925 4sheets-sheet 2 @61ml @Wm N'vn 1.928."

E. A. CONNER STRANDING MACHINE 'origini-Filed July 25, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. I3, 1'928. 1,691,337

E. A. coNNER STRANDING MACHINE Original Filed July 25, 1925 4Sheets-'Sheet 4 Swoon to:

Patented Nov. 13, 192.8.

UNITED STATES 1,691,337 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. coNNEn, or s'rnazrronn, comcrrcv'r, Assronon 'ro Anuman ont.:

. COMPANY, nro., A CORPORATION or 71:nT..A'111rAm1-.

u' s'rmnmo nomma.

I Application med Jury a5, 1925, sei-1111 This invention relates tostranding, by which is meant the formation of a plurality of Wires intoa strand, or the formation of a plurality Iof such strands into a wirerope,

the expression stranding being herein used generically to designateeither of the above operations, .or the subsequent formation of vaplurality of wire ropes into a cable, so that it is not intended to usethe expression stranding with any technical limitation to the formationof a single layer of Wires laid -together with or without a core.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stran'ding machinewith a non-rotating head having means to lay the several component wiresor strands in a strand, vrope or cable, as the strand componentsarecaused to pass through the head. Another obj ect of the invention isto combine with the stationary head in such a machine means forconveniently holding a set-of supply reels containing the individualwiresused as stock for feeding the head, and for substituting rewoundreels for the reels that `become depleted. As

Ain vertical longitudinal section on the line 80 the head visIrion-rotating, these reels need have no movement bodily around thestranding axis of the machine'but rotate about indivi-dual axesin vfixedposition and may be spaced at distances from each other and from thestranding axis suitable to permit the provision of desirably largesupplies of the strand components, thus permitting unusually long`continuous operation of the machine without replenishment of thesupplies, so that the product is free from -splices anduniform in .Afurther object of the invention is to provide a liyer rotating about thestranding axis, having means actuated positively Vto draw the strandcomponents through the head and acting to 4deliver the completed-productto a reel mounted to rotate bodily with the flyer,

and adapted to wind up the productV under yielding tension.

The inventi embodied in a machine or carrying out the process formingthe subject of, andV described in, United States Patent No. 1,513,583,granted Oct. 28, 1924, said process being char- 'acterized'by the factthat, prior to' laying,

the component wires or strands are formed into helices of suitabledimensions, so that When the finished 4product is severed, the componentWires or strands arfesubstantially free from tendency to separate, astrand, rope ical components p on'is of particular utility when A110.45,970. Renewed January 21, 1928.

or cable of this character being sometimes cable.

To this end, a further object ofthe invention is to provide a,non-rotating head with ao preforming means comprising a set of nozzlesor dies mounted on the head in spaced relation around the strani axisand each adapted to act upon one of e strand component wires to form thesame into a helix,

the preforming nozzles delivering these helperly to lay them in astrand, rope or cable. Y

Other objects of the invention will appear in the description of themachine of the pres- 'l0 ent application and its functions and mode ofoperation.

Describing the drawings, y Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of astranding machine embodying the invention. u

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in plan of part of the above machine,showing also means for feeding a core thereto continuousl Fig. 3 isadetail view on an enlarged scale,

III-IH Of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical-section Of the preforming unit, on anenlarged scale, taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in plan, a5

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section on the 90 irregular line VI-VI ofFig. 5. Flg. 7 is a view in vertical section on the une vri-vn of Fig.1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section, on an enlargedscale, taken on Y the une vm of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view of a diagrammatic character, 1nvertical section, taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 5. l

the base 3 of the machine, and to which thef In the embodimentillustrated, the part Si designated by the reference character 1 is aindividual component wires'o; strands 4 are' 105 led over guide pulleys5 supported by suitable brackets 6, from redls, or other suitablesources of supply 7 'mounted rotatably in standards 8 bolted to thebase. Y- Y In the form shown in Fig. 3, the preform ug 45 shaft 26, asshown in Fig. 7.

ing head 1 comprises aymember 11 having a helical grooves 14 throughwhich the wires -4---are drawn simultaneously and consequently formedinto helices s before being wrapped about the centrally disposed core l5to constitute component parts of a complete strand. These devices,therefore, constitute six dies or nozzles spaced equally about thecentral bore 16 through which the core 15 is led from a suitable sourceof supply 17 (see Fig. 2) around guide pulleys 18 and 19, and preferablythe member llvis of integral formation, for the sake of compactness andstrength, and isshown as embraced by a bushing 20 to which the member 11is bolted at 2 1, this bushing being utilized as the support for thebrackets 6 which carry the guide pulleys 5 for the wires 4. A cap isshown at 22 bolted to the standard 2, for the purpose of retain'- ingthe above described parts removably in assembled position. v

When the strand components 4 have been acted upon by the preformingdevices l2, they emerge in the helical form indicated at s, and

are laid together around the core 15 to form a complete strand, wireorcable, such as that' shown at S, which constitutes the completedproduct, and this product is preferably drawn .by suitable means, whichmay take any convenient form.

Ihave 'shown' asthe preferred means for the above purpose` a liyerdesignated by the reference character F which in pursuance of myinvention comprises a frame 24 having hollow trunnions 25 and 26journalled in suitf 'able vbearings 27 and 28 carried by standards 29and 30 bolted to the base 3, provision being made for'rotation oftheflyer by suitable means shown as gears 3l, 32, and 33, the

last gear mentioned being mounted upon the shaft of an electric motor34. The gear 31 is splined at 35 upon the hollow trunnion or As thecompleted productS passes from the preforming head l, it is drawnthrough the hollowtrunnion 25 by a series o'f grooved pulleys 36 and 37mounted .on transverse shafts 38 and 39 supported rotatably in the frame24 and connected for co-rotation by a link belt or. driving chain 40,which insures positively co-rotation of the pulleys 36 and 37 at thesame speed, and the shaft 38 is driven positively by means of bevelgears 41 and 42, the latter being fast upon a shaft 43 carriedlengthwise of the frame 24 in bearing brackets 44 and 45, having itsother \end mounted rotatably in suitable bearings 46 at the oppositeendpof the frame, where the shaft is provided with a gear 47 whichmeshes with a gear, 48 fast upon a shaft 49 which extends through thecentral bore 50 of the hollow trunnion 26, and is secured in fixedposition Vby a flange 51 bolted to thel bearing 28 oi' the standard 30.When the frame 24 is rotating, the gear 47 tracks upon -the gear 48 andis caused to rotate, with the result that, the shaft 43 is run atproportionate speed and drives the pulleys 36 and 37 positively fordrawing-off the completed product S, and thus. for vdrawing the strandlcomponents 4 through the preforming devices l2.

The product S, in pursuance of my invention, is wound upon aV reel Runder a yielding tension, and this reel is ada ted to be turnedend-ovenendby the rotation of the flyer 24, around an axis coincidingwith that of the strand under formation, which may be termed thestranding axis, for the sake of brevity, thereby laying the strand atthe rate of one complete set of convolutions for each rotation oftheflyer, Lwhich rotation corresponds to the period occupiedin drawingthrough each of the preforming devices 12 the length of materialreouired to form a com plete helical convolution, the rotation of theflyer 24 and of lthe reel R being timed and f ries also a spur gear 58forming one of a train with gears 59 and 60, the latter meshing with thestationary gear 48 upon the fixed shaft 49, which as already describedis the one upon which the planetary gear 47 runs to drive the shaft 43,so that proportional rotation of the reel R is thus insured.

The shaft 52 carries a sleeve shaft 62 mounted loosely thereon betweenthe hub 63 of the bevel gear 55 and a collar 64 fast upon tthe shaft 52,and upon this sleeve is splined the barrel 65 of the reel R, being heldin place removably by a collar 66 at one end, secured thereto by a setscrew 67, and at the other end by a fiange 68, extending from the sleeveshaft- 62. yThis flange 68 constitutes one member of a friction clutchwhich comprises also a strap 69 connected to a post 7 0 on the flange 68and engaged with the hub 63, the latter serving as the actuating memberof the friction clutch, to cause co-rotation of the reel R with theshaft 52. The reel is thus rotated endover-end with the .shaft 52 byrotationof the flyer 24, to lay the helical strand components in astrand, rope or cable, and the .product thus laid is wound-up on thereel R by the act-ion of the friction clutch just dcscribed, which'permits slippage of the reel as the diameter of the wound-up product Sincreases.

A suitable distributing device may be provvided as indicated at 7l,which may be of the conventional character shown, mounted upon adistributing shaft 72 j ournalled at.

73 in bearings carried by the frame 24:, and the lactuationl of Which isprovided for by bevel gears 75and 76, the latter heilig mounted upon thecounter-shaft 77 carried -in bearings 78 upon the frame 24, and having abevel gear 7 9 engaged with teeth 80 upon the pe- 10 ripliery of Ltheiiange 68, so that the distribut-` ing device is driven at a speedproportionate with the speed of the lr'eel The supply reel 17 for thecore is pretera'bly rotated bodily in a frame 87 j ournalled in suitablebearings 88 mounted on an eXtension 8.9 of the base 3, and this framemay de "strand components through said preforming -means and lay vthehelical components and at the same time rotate'the product at a speed.4

coordinate With the speed of formation of the helices. p 'Y v .Y 2. In astranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with a plurality ofpreforming nozzles adapted to form. into helices 85 strand componentspassing through said nozzles priorto laying said strand components, andmeans to draw said strand components through said preforming nozzles andlay the helical components and at the same time ro- 40 tate .the productat a speed coordinate with the speed of formation of the helices.

3. Inl a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with aplurality of preforming'nozzles arranged about the strand` ing axis',said preforming nozzles being adapted to form into-helices strandcomponents passing therethrough. f 4. In a stranding machine, anon-rotating head provided with means for individual helicalpreformation of theseveral strand components prior...to laying the same,and means to lay said helical components in a strand, rope or cable androtate the completed product on its axis relatively to said head.

5. In a stranding'machine, a non-rotating head provided with means toformthe strand components into helices prior to laying said strandcompone-nts, a'support for a plurality of reels-containing individualsupplies of said strand dompo-nents; and means to mdravv said strandcomponents through said y preforming means and laythe helical componentsandI at the Isaine time rotate the product at a speed coordinate withthe speed of formation'of the helices.

claim 6. In a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with meansto form the strand components into helices prior to laying said strandcomponents, a non-rotating support for a plurality of reels containingindividual 'i0 supplies of said strand components; and means to diawsaid 'strand com nents through said .preforming means and ay the helicalcomponents and'at the same time rotate the product at a speed coordinatewith the speed of formation of the. helices.

7. In a stra-riding machine, a non-rotating head provided with means tolay the strand components in helical relation; a support for apliralityof reels containing the individual 30 supplies of 'said strandcomponents; and a flyer mounted to rotate relatively to said support andhead, exerting formative traction upon said several strand components,drawlng )dthem' simultaneously through. the'laying 85 8. In astrandingmachine, a non-rotating head provided; with means for individual helicalpreformationof the several strand components prior to laying said strandcomponents, and a .flyer provided with means to vvind up the finishedproduct, rotating the same about its axis.

9. In a stranding machine, a non-rotating head provided with means forindividual helical preformation of the several strand components priorto laying said strand componente, and a flyer provided with means toWind up the iinished product, rotating the same about its axis, and aseries of reels to contain individual supplies of said strandcomponents, one of said reels being adapted to contain a supply of corematerial and vhaving 'means to rotate said core at a speed co-ordinatewith the speed of rotation of said flyer. 10. In al stranding machine, ahead provided with means for individual helical preformation of theseveral strand components prior to laying them; a rotatable flyer havinga reel mounted to rotate about'anaxis Atransversely disposed upon saidflyer, and sharing also the body rotation of said flyer with saidproduct about the strimding axis; and means to cause said severalrotative move- 115 ments of said iiyer .and reel respectively, wherebyAsaid flyer exerts a formative traction upon said strand components,drawing them respectively through said preforming meansA from individualsources of supply and winding said product on said reel. l

11.In a stranding machine, a head provided With means for individualhelical 'pre. formation of the several strand components prior to layingtheme; a rotatable ilyerhaving-a reel mounted to rotate about an ."axis'transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the bodyrotation" of said flyer -With said product about the axis;

and means to cause said'several rotative 13 movements of said flyer andreel respectively, whereby said flyer exerts a formative traction uponsaid strand components, drawing them respectively through saidpreforming means from individual sources of' supply and Winding saidproduct on said reel without rotation of said product relatively to saidreel.

12. In a stranding machine, 'a head provided with means Ifor individualhelical preformation of the several stranding components preparatory tolaying said st-randing components; a flyer having a reel mounted torotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharingalso the bod)7 rota-tion of said flyer, and means to cause said severalrotative n'ioven'ients of said flyer and reel respectively, said flyerbeing also provided with devices actuated positively to exert a constantformative traction upon said strand components and-to deliver thecompleted product to said reel.

13. In a stranding machine, ahead provided with means for helicalpreformation of the strand components preparatory to laying the same; aflyer having a'reel mounted to rotate about an axis transverselydisposed upon said flyer, and sharing also the body rotation of saidflyer, and means to cause said several rotative movements ot' said flyerand reel respectively, whereby said flyer exerts a formative tractionupon said strand components, drawing them respectively through saidpreforming means from individual 4sourcesof supply and winding saidstrand on said reel without rotation of said strand relatively to saidreel, said flyer bev-ing also provided with auxiliary devices actuatedpositively to exert a constant formative tension upon said product andto deliver it to said reel, and being provided also with means tov laysaid product in regular convolutions upon said reel, said means for:rotating said reel upon its proper axis comprising a device to conformthe speed of such rotation with the increasing diameter of saidconvlutions, by permitting slippage of the reel. i

14. In a stranding machine,ia head provided with means for helicalpreformation of the stranding components, preparatory to laying th same;a flyer journalled in a suitable support, said flyer having a reelmounted to rotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer,and sharing also the body rotation of said flyer, and means to causesaid several rotative movements of said flyer and reel respectively,comprising a gear on said flyer, a fixed gear mounted coaxially withsaid flyer upon 'the support therefor, a gear rotatable -co-axially withsaid reel, and connected frictionally with said reel, and ygearingconnecting said reelactuating' gear with said fixed gear, whereby saidreelis rotated at a speed' proportionate laying the same; a flyerjournalled in a suitable support, said flyer having a reel mounted torotate about an axis transversely disposed upon said flyer, and sharingalso thel 4 body rotation of said Hyer, and means to cause` said severalrotative movements of said flyer and reel respectively, said meanscomprising a gear on said flyer, in mesh with a fixed gear mountedeo-axially with said flyer upon the support therefor, a gear rotatablecoaxially with said reel, and connected frictionally with said reel, andgearing connecing said reel-actuating gear with said fixed gear, wherebysaid reel is rotated at a speed proportionate to that of said flyer,'and at the saine time is permitted to slip and compensate for-theincreased diameter of the product laid thereon; said flyer being alsoprovided with a set of grooved pulleys connected together and geared tosaid fixed gear whereby said pulleys are actuated positively to exert aconstant formative traction upon said cable and to deliver it to saidreel.

16. In a stranding machine, a head provided with means for helicalpreformation of the strand components preparatory to laying, a support,and a flyer mounted on said support rotatively with relation to saidhead and adapted to draw said strand components through said head as thesame are laid in a strand, rope or cable, said flyer having devicesactuated positively toexert said formative traction upon said product,and means acting to wind said product up under yielding tension. l

17. In a stranding machine, a stationary head provided with means forhelical preformation of the strand components preparatory tolaying, asupport, and a flyer mounted on said support rotatively with relation tosaid head and provided with means acting to wind said product up underyielding tension.

18. In a stranding machine, a rotatable I 'stranded product and todeliver it to said reel, and being provided also with means to vlay saidproduct in regular convolutionsA upon said reel, said means for rotatingsaid ,"cel upon 1ts proper axis comprlsmg a de- Leones? vice to conformthe speed o such rotation with the increasing diameter of saidconvolutions, by permitting slippage of the reel. 19. A machine of theclass describedcom- 5 prising,y in combination, a base member, meansthereon for spiralling and rotating a group of strands, a die forassembling the strands for movement in a common path, rotary devices forpulling the strands through the die and subsequently tensioning themarranged to revolve about the axis thereof, means 'for revolving thedevices at the speed of rotation 'of the strands, means vfor rotatingthe devices, and a rotary Wind-up reel arranged to revolve with the saiddevices.

20. A machine of the class `described comprising, a base, means thereonfor spiralling and rotating a group of Wire strands, a die forassembling the strands t-o move in a com- 20 mon path, rotary devicesfor pulling the strands through the die and subsequently tensioning themarranged to revolve about the axis thereof, a wind-up reel alsorevoluble about the axis of the die, and means for revolving the devicesand the reel at substantially the speed of rotation of the strands. i21. A machine of the class described com` jprising, a base,meansvthereon for spiralling .and rotating a group of Wire strands, adie 30,' for assembling the strands to move in a common path, rotarydevices :torl pulling the strands through the die and subsequentlytensioning them arranged to revolve abouti lthe axis thereof, a wind-upreel also revoluble about the axis of the die, means for revolving thedevices and the reel at substantially the speed of rotation of thestrands, and means for actuating the rotary devices.`

22. The combination of a plurality of supply ree'ls for Wire, a devicefor simultaneously forming the Wires into spirals and rotating suchwires on tlieir longitudinal axes, an means for bringing the spiralledand rotating wires together to form a cable.

23. A process of'manufacturing cable from 45 a plurality7 of straightWires, comprising spiralling and simultaneously rotating the Wires ontheir longitudinal axes, and bringing the rotating Wires together sothat the spirals Will intertwine to form, the cable.

24. A process of manufacturing cable from a plurality'- of Wires,comprising spiralling and simultaneously rotating the Wires on theirlongitudinal axes, bringing the rotating wires together so that thespirals'will intertwine, and stretching the Wires to cause the spiralsto hug each other closely in cable form.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

EDWARD A. CONNER.-

